Machine for removing lacings from shoe uppers



v J. FQ$SA MACHINE FOR REMOVING LACINGS FROM SHOE UPPBRS filled March 5, 1957 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 J. Fos sA MACHINE FOR REMOVING LACINGS FROM SHOE UPPERS Filed March 5, 1937 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 g H (G10 x 1 to Witness cm 7 won J. FQSSA 234KB? MACHINE FOR REMOVING LACIMGS FROM SHOE .JPFET-Rf) Filed March 5, 1.957

4 Sheets-Sheet 3 A I', T Fir? Fig, 7 g 5', 48 26 1 2 Z4 fwnm Witness W 7 am FQSSA FE VO ING UACINGF FROM SHOE UPPER-5 MACHiML' FOR 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed March 5, 1957 Patented net. 28', 1937 v nset;

PAT T oFr cE.

MACHINE FOR annoyin menses FROM s I Snot. Wrens-1 I Joseph Fossa, Lynn, Mass,

Shoe Machinery; Gorporation, a orp ation of ew J rsey- .assignor to 'i'lnited Em rs In.

Application March 5, 1937*; SerialNo. 129, 12

I 20. Claims. (e1. lit-+1). V hook members, each engaginga lacing-before The present invention relates to a, machine for operating upon temporary lacings in lasted shoes, andmore, particularly to a machinefor severing lacings of the type formed by the machine dis-' 5 closed in inventors prior application forU. S.

Letters Patent Serial No.f21,0ll, filed May 11, 1935, which machine is, constructed and arranged to, apply a plurality of individually fastened lengths of cord extendingv across the 'eyeletted edges. and through eyelets .in opposite sides, ofa

shoe upper. I.

- Inicertain types of temporary lacing s. for holding the upper of vashoestretched in close fitting relation t'o -a last, a single length of cord is passed through all of the eyeletsf'and tied with a knot at the ends so that to release the last from the shoe it is necessary to sever'the cord atone point only- In the typev of lacing formed by the machine referred to, each pair of adjacent'eyelets in Opeposite sides of the shoe upper are connected together by a separate length of cord, ea'ch length being passed through the eyelets to. form a 11111-- rality of parallel strands and each strand .being individually fastened. To completely releasethe .last from a shoe, the eyelets of which are conneoted b-ylacings of this type, all of'the strands of every lacing must be severed On account of being drawn tightly against the support provided by the convex surfaces of the last during the lasting operation, the lacings are held firmly in contact with the underlying'finished surfaces of the shoe and of the tongue of the shoe. It is frequently difficult for this reason to separate all of the strands from the underlying surfaces. sufliciently to avoid accidental marking of the shoe or otherwiseinjuring the surfaces jwhile severing the strands. The operation of releasing the last,

pwhen the-shoe is held stretched by a lacing of therefore, in certain instances, require so muchtime and care. as to render'the this type may,

operation objectionably expensive.

fit is, therefore, an object of thepresent'invention to provide a machine for s vering the lacings of a shoe quickly and reliably without marking or otherwise injuring and, accordingly, an important feature of the invention includes the provision in amachine having devices for severing the lacings, of means for locating the shoe in proper relation to the machine before thelacings are severed so that the severing devices may operate quickly and effectively without beingb-rought,

into accidental-contact with the finished surfaces of the shoe. In the form vof the invention illus trated, the means for locatingthe shoe'in proper relat on to he chi e comprises numbe 0f the spacings between them by when readily be understood byone is a sectional view taken along the said lacing is severed.

Other features of the invention include the provision of means for gripping each lacing so thateach lacing may be withdrawn completely from the upper without leaving behind any of I;

the separate strands of mechanism for operating the severing devices successively; of connections between the hook members for changing quickly the eyelets of' successive upon are separated differently; and of iieans for removing. the severedlacings from the gripping means before a new shoe is presented to the ma- Chine-f The several features. of the present invention and the advantagesto, be obtained thereby will I skilled in the art from the following description taken in connection' with the accompanying drawings in which Fig. 1 is a view in right side elevation, partly broken away and in section of a'lacing machine embodying. the features of the invention and indicating the position of a lasted shoeheld in the machine; 2 is .a. plan view of the machine illustrated in Fig 1; Fig. 3 is a perspective v-iew' of an ope iali ng unit of the machine arranged with the parts including the gripperbar, the hook member and the cutter plate shown in separated relation; Fig. 4 is a view in front elevation, partly broken away and in section ofthe machine Fig. 5

Fig.2; 6 is a sectional view taken along the line -43 of Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is'a sectional view taken along the line '|-1 of Fig. 2; Figs. 8 and 9' are 1 detail plan views of certain parts of the machine shown with a shoe located in operative position and with the .lacings severed respectively; Fig. 10

is a vertical sectional view taken along the-line ille-1B oflil'ig; 9; Fig. 11 is. a similar view-illustrating the positipnassurned by the lacing after I the shoe has been removed from the machine and Fig; .12 is a similar view showing the lacing being removed from the operating unit.

The machine illi stratedin thedrawings isar v f pa a e per in units ranged with a e s for severing. andier pin a of th 'st s of a number of individual lacings 2 as formed on the machine described intheapplication, above referred to. In this type of lacing, the cordof each lacing passes a number oftimes through a pair of adjacenteyelets 4 in opposite. sides of the upper 6 of a shoe secured in close fitting relation to a last 8 about which it has previouslybeen stretched during a lasting operation. 7 The shoe sem sequal amounts shoes operated line 5-5 of cated in proper relation to the operating units of the machine and the units then actuated to sever and grip the lacings. Relative movement of the shoe and operating units in removing the shoe from the machine thereafter causes the severed lacings to be withdrawn from the eyelets of the shoe. With this brief outline of the mode of operation of the machine a detailed. description of its parts will now be given.

Each operating unit, as indicated in Figure 3, comprises a central slidable positioning strip H], a cutter plate l2 beneath the positioning strip, and a gripper bar l4 above the positioning strip. Each positioning strip is notched at the left side of its forward end to form a hook-like finger Hi, the notch forming a finger providing a space within which a lacing may enter and the rear edge of each finger being suitably tapered to facilitate entrance of a lacing into the notch. When a lacing is applied to a hook finger IS, the tension in the lacing imparted while lasting the shoe causes the finger to be wedged between the outer and inner strands .of the lacing, the inner strand being supported by the rigidity of the last within the shoe, as shown in Figs. 1 and 8. The forward surface of a finger thus acts to locate both the lacing and. the shoe accurately as well as to guard the tongue of the shoe, indicated at l8, from damage while the lacing is being severed. When moved lengthwise, each positioning strip causes the lacing held in the notch at its forward end to be dragged across a sharpened edge 2!] of the cutter plate l2 and to be squeezed between the gripper bar l4 and the upper surface of the finger I6.

To secure the parts of each unit together in operative relation, a bolt 22 passes through perforations in each gripper bar and cutter plate and through a lengthwise slot in each positioning strip at the front of the machine. At the central part of each unit is a bolt 24 passing through the gripper bar and cutter plate and through a second lengthwise slot in the positioning strip. All of the units are mounted in the upper part of the open box-like frame 26 of the machine with all of the fingers l6 directed in alignment to facilitate entry of the lacing of a shoe simultaneously into the notches forming the fingers.

To move the positioning strips lengthwise, the rearward ends of the strips carry downwardly projecting pins 28. Fulcrumed on a horizontal shaft 30 on the frame beneath the pins 28 is an actuating lever 32 the upper rectangular arm of which is provided with a curved slot 34 along its horizontal portion into which the pins 28 project. To the other arm of the lever 32' is connected a treadle rod 36 having its lower end connected to a foot treadle 3B. The treadle rod is pivoted to a floor fixture 40 at its'rearward end and at a convenient distance below the level of the machine frame 26. When the treadle is depressed, the hook finger l6 of each unit is actuated, but due to the curvature of the slot 34 in the rectangular arm of lever 32, the

fingers cause the separate lacings to be severed successively so that less pressure is required on the treadle during actuation. To maintain the treadle 38 raised, a coil spring 42 is stretched between the treadle and a stationary part (not illustrated). While the treadle is held depressed, a grip is maintained on each severed lacing, as indicated in Fig. 10, so that when the shoe is withdrawn from operative position the lacings will be pulled loose from the eyelets of the shoe (see Fig. 11). As soon as the treadle is raised the lacings are released from the operating units (Fig. 12), the units then being ready for operation on the new shoe. To prevent the hook fingers from being moved forwardly too far, when the treadle is raised, the operating lever I2 is provided with a short horizontal arm having a set screw 43 engaging the frame 26 and limiting the movement of the lever.

In order that the severed lacings will be Withdrawn with certainty from the hook fingers after being freed, there is mounted beneath the forward ends of the operating units, the open end of a suction tube 44 extending through a rectangular opening in the upright arm of operating lever 32. When the hook fingers it free the lacings from the gripper bars, the lacings are quickly carried through the suction tube into a suitable collecting container.

In shoes of different sizes or styles, the spacings between eyelets vary to such an extent that the hook fingers l6 may fail to engage the lacings properly unless provision for proper spacing is made. To change the spacings of the hook fingers I 6, when different sizes of shoes are operated upon, all the operating units with the exception of the unit at the extreme left are movable in a guideway 45 in the upper part of the frame, and the bolts 24 which hold the units together also pass through right angle arms 46 rigidly connected between the units and pivotally connected at equally separated points to a spacing lever '41. The arms extend across the series of units and serve to position the units along the guideway. The units are held from lengthwise movement in the guideway 45 while being free to move transversely of their length by the engagement of the lower headed ends of bolts 24 in a slot 48 formed in the lower surface of the guideway 45. A pair of guide rods 50 attached at their ends to the frame 26 cover the open upper side of the guideway along the front and rear edges of the frame to hold the bolt heads within the slot 48. The. bolt 24 which passes through the extreme left hand unit has its head uppermost, as shown in Fig. '7, and is threaded at its lower end in the frame 23 to hold that unit stationary. To provide a rigid connection of the arms on the bolts 24 in the other units, each gripper bar 54 carries a stud 5i passing through an opening in one end of each arm 46. Successive arms 46 are arranged alternately at one of two levels andare spaced vertically from each other by the use of washers 52 surrounding the bolts 24 and the pivotal connections for the lever 41.

The spacing lever 41' is secured to a vertical shaft 54 rotatably mounted at the right side of the machine in a bearing lug 56 extending from the frame 26. To the central part of the shaft 54 there is pinned a collar 58 (see Fig. 4) bearing on the upper surface of the bearing lug 56 and the lower end of the shaft is threaded to receive check nuts 60 between which and the under surface of the lugs is compressed a spring washer62 for the purpose of holding the spacing lever frictionally in adjusted position during operation of the machine. To adjust the spacing lever there is mounted at the upper end of the shaft 54 a hand crank 64. The construction is .such that when the spacing lever is moved from the dot-dash position to the solid line position of Fig. 2, the arms 46 not only move the operating the guidewayl5.

the upper of which fitting relation passingthrough eyelets in opposite sides of the ering thelacingsjahd'a series of hook members units 1ia11y transversely "of' thei'r lengthfb ut V 7 "arranged with theirhook portions opening in the also'due totheir rigid connectionwith-the arms the units are held; from' flturningor twisting in The nature and been" indicated,- and "a" construction embodying the several features having been described, what is claimedisi Q a 1. A machine for operating upon a lasted shoe, is held stretched in close to; alast by one or ;more lacings upper comprising cutting means for severing the lacings; and means for locating the shoe in an operative position-on" the machine before the lacings are severed. r j

2. A machine for-operating upon a-lasted shoe,

the upperof which is held stretched in close fitting, relation to alast by one or more lacings passing through eyelets 'in'opposite sides of the I 7 upper, comprising cutting" devices for severing upper, comprising hook-member arranged to enter between each the lacingsfand a hook member engaging each lacing to locate the shoe in an'opera'tive position on the machine'be'fore the cutting devices act.

the upper of :which is held stretched in close 3'. A machine for operating upon a lasted shoe,

fitting relation to a last by one or more lacings passing through eyelets in' opposite sides of the upperv comprising a cutting device forv severing aflacing, and 'a member to engage lacing to locate the shoe 1n an operative position onthe machinebefore the cutting device acts;

Ajrnachine for operating upon a lasted shoe, -the upper, of' which" is held stretched in close fittingrelation to a last by one or'more lacings passing through eyelets in opposite sides of -the a cutter for. each lacing, a

lacing and'the last to locate the shoe in an operative position" on themachine, and connections for relatively actnating the hook members and cutters tosever the lacings.

5; A machine for operating upon a lasted shoe, 7

the upper of which is held stretched in close fitting relation'to a last by one or more lacings passing through eyelets in oppositesides of the upper, comprising cutting devices for severing the lacings, and means forgripping one end'of each severed lacing to cause the lacings to'be withdrawn from the eyelets when the shoe is moved relatively to the gripping means.

6. A machine for operating on a lasted shoe,

the upper of which is held stretched in close fitting relation to a last by one or more lacings passing through eyelets in opposite sides of the upper, comprising cutting devices for severing the lacings, and meansior gripping each lacing to cause the severed lacings to be withdrawn from the eyelets by a subsequent relative movement of the gripping means and shoe.

7. A machine for operating upon a lasted'shoe, the upper of which is held stretched in close fitting relation to a last by one or more lacings passing through eyelets in opposite sides of the upper, comprising devices for severing the lacings and for gripping the lacings to cause thesevered lacings to be withdrawn from the eyelets by a subsequent relative movement of the gripping means and shoe.

8. A machine for operating upon a lasted shoe, the upper of which is" stretched in close fitting relation to a'last'by one or morelacings passing through eyelets in opposite sides of the upper and across'the outer surfaces at the side edges of the upper, comprising cutting means for sevs cope "of the invention having I. e

same direction towards one end of the series for engaging the lacings along those portions which cross-the side edges of'the upper to locate the 2 shoe in. an operative position on the machine before the lacings are severed. 9-. A-machine for operating upon a lasted shoe, the upperof which is stretched in close fitting relation to a last by one or more lacings passing through eyelets 'in opposite sides of the upper and across the outer surfaces at the side edgesof the upper, comprising, cutting means for side of the series, gripping means at the other side of the series, and-connections for relatively actuating the hookmembers and the cutting and gripping means to sever and grip the lacings.

10} A machine for operating upon a lasted 's'hoe, the upper of which is held stretched in close *fitting'relation to a last by one'or more lacings fpassing through eyelets in opposite sides of the upper, comprising cutting means for severing the lacings, a hook member engaging each lacing V to locate the shoe in an operative position on the machine before'the cutting means acts, a bar cooperating with each hook member, and conmotions; for actuating each hook member relatively to each bar to grip'one end of each severed lacing and cause it to withdrawn from the eyelets. v I v 11. A machine for'operating upon a lasted shoe, the upper'off which is held stretched in close fitting relation to a lastby one or morelac- 'ing's passing through eyelets in opposite sides of the upper, comprisinga'cutter plate for each lacing, a gripper bar for each lacing and a hook member'for causing each lacing to be drawn across the cutting edge of each cutter-plate and to be wedged between each adjacent gripper bar and hook member when the hook members are actuated relatively to said cutter plates and gripper bars. a

12. A machine for operating upon a lasted shoe, the upper of which is held stretched in close fitting relation to a last by one or more lacings passing through eyelets in opposite sides of the upper, comprising cutting means for severing '1 the lacings, a hook member cooperating with each lacing to locate the shoe in an operative position on the machine before severing the lacthe hook members by equal amounts.

13. A machine'for operating upon a lasted fitting relation to a last-by one or more lacings passing through eyelets in opposite sides .of the upper and across the outer surfaces at the side edges of the upper, comprising .cutting'means edges of the upper and a manually operable member for changing the'spacings of the hook members equally along the guideway.

shoe, the upper of which isstretched in close 14. A machine for operating upon a lasted shoe, the upper of which is stretched in close fittingrelation to a last by one or more lacings passing through eyelets in opposite sides of the upper and across the outer surfaces at the side 76 ings, and means for changing the spacings of -"edges of the'upper, comprising c'utting means for severing the lacings, a guideway, a series of shoe, the upper of Whichis stretched in close fitting relation to a last-by one or more lacings passing through eyelets in oppositesides of the upper and across the'outer surfacesat the side edges of the upper, comprising cutting means for severing the lacings, a guideway, a series of hook members arranged in the guideway with their hookportions in alinement to engage the lacings alongthose portions which cross the side edges of the upper, a lever for changing the spacings of the hook members along the guideway, and an arm extending across the series rigidly connected to each hook member and pivotally connected'to the spacing lever at equally separated points to cause the distance between adjacent hook members to remain the same when the spacing lever is moved. v

,16. A machine for operating upon a lasted shoe, the upper of which is held stretched in close fitting relation'to a last by one or more lacings passing through eyelets in opposite sides ofthe upper, comprising cutting means for severing the lacings, gripping means arranged to engage each severed lacing, and means for removing the severed lacings from the gripping means,

1 7. A machine for operating upon a lasted shoe, the upper of WhlCh iS held stretched in close fitting relation to a last by one or more lacings passing through eyelets in opposite sides of the upper, comprising cutting means for severing the lacings, gripping means for each lacing, a

,sively while the members.

treadle for actuating the cutting'means to sever the lacings and the gripping means to engage each severed lacing, and means for removing the severed lacings from the gripping means :when the treadle is released.

'18. A machine for operating, upon 'a lasted shoe, the'upper of which is held stretched in close fitting relationto a last by one or more lacings passingthrough eyelets in opposite sides of the :upper, comprising cutting means forsevering the lacings, a hook member engaging each lacing close fitting relation toa last by one or more lacings passing througheyelets in opposite sides of the upper, comprising a series of cutting devices for severing the lacings, positioning members for engaging the lacings to locate the shoe in an-operative position on the machine before the cutting-devices act, and means for causing the cutting devices to sever the lacings succeslacings are engaged by said '20 A machine for operating upon a lasted shoe, the upper of which is held stretched in close fitting relation to a last by one or more :lacings'passing through eyelets in opposite sides of the upper, comprising a series of cutting de- ;vices for severing the lacings, positioning members for engaging the lacingsto locate-the shoe in an operative position'on the machinebefore the cutting devices act, and means for gripping each lacing and actuating connections for causing the cutter devices to sever the lacings and. the gripping means to act successively while the lacings are engaged by the positioning members.

JOSEPH FOSSA. 

